Page 21 of Big Obsession

Tucker gives him some money, and after a quick thank you, he’s running off.

When we sat down, we were sitting across from each other, so I get up and move around the booth to sit next to him.

He tenses next to me, especially when I put my hand on his thigh. His muscles flex under my touch. “We didn’t get to finish our conversation.”

He’s staring at me. “You don’t want to be with me. I got it, and I’m sorry if I pushed myself on you… I can get someone else to drive me around, but if you can keep taking Ace to practices, that would be good because he really likes spending time with you.”

“Stop,” I say.

When he clamps his mouth shut, I squeeze his thigh. “It’s my turn to talk now. I’m going to be the one to take you and Ace anywhere you need to go. And you didn’t push yourself on me at all. Anything and everything that has happened between us, well, I was more than willing.”

There’s a question in his eyes. “But…”

I shake my head. “There’s no but. I think if we do this, we should keep it between us. I don’t want Ace hurt in all this, and I don’t want him to get his hopes up and then be hurt when it doesn’t work out.”

He leans toward me as he covers my hand with his. “When it doesn’t work out?”

“Yeah,” I answer simply.

His voice is deep, and he leans in to whisper into my ear, “I haven’t even kissed you yet, and you’re already planning for this to end.”

I bring my chin up in defiance, but inadvertently I tilt my head so he has better access to my neck. I stutter as he runs his cheek along mine. “Uh, well, I don’t have a lot of experience, so the likelihood of me keeping you is slim.”

He puts a finger on my chin and lifts my face so I have to look at him. “I don’t want to hear about you with other men.”

I smile with a laugh. “It would be a short story.”

“I want you, Dolly. I don’t care how much experience you have.”

He’s stroking my knee with his finger, and I breathe heavily, parting my legs. “I want you too.”

He pulls his hand away. “But I won’t hide what’s happening between us.”

My eyes that were at half-mast pop open. “But…”

He’s shaking his head. “It’s not happening, sweets. If I claim you like I want to, there’s not going to be hiding anything that happens between us. Any and everyone is going to know how I feel about you.”

I grip his arm. “I need time, Tucker.”

He wants to say no. It’s that easy to read on his face. He likes to have things his way, and I’m waiting on him to tell me no, but he surprises me. “Fine.”

“Fine?” I ask him.

He nods. “Yeah, I’ll give you a few days to get used to the idea, but after that, all bets are off.”

“Okay.”

I smile at him, and he brushes a piece of hair away from my face. “When you take us home, can you stay for a while?”

I tense up but nod my head. “I can stay awhile if you want me to.”

He gives me a heated look. “I want you to.”

I take in a deep breath and then let it out slowly. “Yes. Yes, I can stay for a while.”

He threads our fingers together and brings my hand up to his mouth to kiss my soft skin. I want him to kiss me, but I also don’t want our first kiss to be at the Hog & Hickory Smokehouse in front of half the town.

The server comes, and I order the smoked chicken with baked beans, coleslaw, and cornbread. Tucker orders the trio of brisket, pulled chicken, and pulled pork with all the sides, and then he orders a half chicken and mac and cheese for Ace.

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